Digital representation of intertwined vector objects

Abstract

Digital representation techniques of intertwined vector objects are described. These techniques support a non-destructive representation of intertwined digital objects. Additionally, these techniques support editing of overlaps to change a visual ordering in an intuitive and efficient manner. Optimization operations are also implemented that remove redundancy, combine overlaps into a single representation, address visual artifacts at borders between the intertwined objected, and so forth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented by a processing device, the method comprising:
 detecting, by the processing device, a zone within a display of a digital image in a user interface;   generating, by the processing device, a clipping group based on the zone, the generating including:
 forming a mask based on the zone; 
 identifying vector objects within the digital image as being included at least partially within the zone; and 
 determining a visual ordering of the identified vector objects within the zone; and 
   displaying, by the processing device, the clipping group including representations of the identified vector objects within the zone as displayed in the user interface along with the digital image, the representations included within the clipping group selectable to change the visual ordering of the identified vector objects within the zone.   
     
     
         2 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the detecting including detecting a boundary of a user input received via the user interface. 
     
     
         3 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the generating includes copying the vector objects from the digital image for inclusion as part of the clipping group. 
     
     
         4 . The method as described in  claim 3 , wherein the displaying the clipping group includes rendering the copied vector objects as masked based on the mask in the user interface for display in the user interface within the zone. 
     
     
         5 . The method as described in  claim 3 , further comprising storing the copied vector objects, the mask, and the visual ordering of the clipping group as part of the digital image. 
     
     
         6 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the generating the clipping group includes a zone trimming operation configured to reduce a number of vector objects included within the zone. 
     
     
         7 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the generating the clipping group includes a sequence operation configured to combine at least two said zones based on determining that the at least two said zones include respective said visual orderings that do not conflict. 
     
     
         8 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the generating the clipping group includes a redundancy removal operation in which a single instance of a respective said digital object is utilized by a plurality of said clipping groups. 
     
     
         9 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the generating the clipping group includes a boundary pixel operation that is operable to expand a size of the vector objects based on overlaps defined by the visual ordering. 
     
     
         10 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the displaying further includes displaying a representation of a shape of an input as received via the user interface as indicating the zone. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a zone detection module implemented by a processing device to detect a zone within a display of digital image in a user interface;   a clipping group generation module implemented by the processing device to generate a clipping group based on the zone, the clipping group generation module including:
 a mask generation module to form a mask based on the zone; 
 a vector object identification module to copy vector objects identified as included at least partially within the zone; and 
 a visual ordering module to determine a visual ordering of the identified clipping group vector objects within the zone; and 
   a clip group editing module implemented by the processing device to display the clipping group as being editable via the user interface to change the visual ordering of the vector objects within the zone as displayed in the user interface.   
     
     
         12 . The system as described in  claim 11 , wherein the clip group editing module is configured to store the copied vector objects, the mask, and the visual ordering of the clipping group as part of the digital image. 
     
     
         13 . The system as described in  claim 11 , wherein the generating the clipping group includes a zone trimming operation configured to reduce a number of vector objects included within the zone. 
     
     
         14 . The system as described in  claim 11 , wherein the clipping group generation module is configured to include a sequence operation configured to combine at least two said zones based on determining that the at least two said zones includes respective said visual orderings that do not conflict. 
     
     
         15 . The system as described in  claim 11 , wherein the clipping group generation module is configured to include a redundancy removal operation in which a single instance of a respective said digital object is utilized by a plurality of said clipping groups. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a processing device; and   a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, responsive to execution by the processing device, causes the processing device to perform operations including:
 detecting a zone within a display of a digital image in a user interface; 
 generating a clipping group based on the zone, the generating including:
 identifying vector objects within the digital image as being included at least partially within the zone; and 
 determining a visual ordering of the identified vector objects within the zone; and 
 
 displaying the clipping group including representations of the identified vector objects within the zone as displayed in the user interface along with the digital image, the representations included within the clipping group selectable to change the visual ordering of the identified vector objects within the zone. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system as described in  claim 16 , wherein the detecting including detecting a boundary of a user input received via the user interface. 
     
     
         18 . The system as described in  claim 16 , wherein the generating includes copying the vector objects from the digital image for inclusion as part of the clipping group. 
     
     
         19 . The system as described in  claim 18 , wherein the displaying the clipping group includes rendering the copied vector objects as masked based on the mask in the user interface for display in the user interface within the zone. 
     
     
         20 . The system as described in  claim 18 , further comprising storing the copied vector objects, a mask of the zone, and the visual ordering of the clipping group as part of the digital image.